Kite Info

Kite Organizations

For information about kite organizations and regional events, go to Kite Links.

How to Fly a Kite

To fly a kite, wind is needed. Experienced kite fliers do not run with a kite. They wait for the wind. If there is no wind, they go home.

If you have wind, position yourself so that the wind is at your back. If the winds in your face you’re in the wrong place.  Hold the flying line in one hand and the kite in the other hand. Swing the kite up into the wind. If the wind is strong enough to fly your kite it will lift it into the air. You will let out flying line and watch your kite rise into the sky.

If the wind is light, a helper is useful. The helper holds the kite at a distance from the flier. The flier then pulls on the line to launch the kite.

When you pull on the line, the kite feels the pull as wind. It moves faster in the direction that it is headed. If the kite is upright when you pull on the line, it will rise. If it is headed down when you pull on the line, it will head for the ground faster! If the kite is upside down and headed for the ground, let out line or move towards the kite. This will enable the kite to right itself.

Kite Safety

Never fly a kite near electrical lines – you could be shocked or the kite could get caught in the electrical lines.

Do not fly in traffic or where the kite might come down on a vehicle. Parks and beaches are usually good places to fly, unless the location prohibits kite flying.

Be aware of how high you are flying when you fly near an airport. Airplanes that are taking off or landing could get the kite sucked into their propeller or jet engine, and cause an accident. Federal regulations prohibit flying a kite more than 500 feet in the air, or within 3 miles of an airport. Flying less than the height of the nearest building is OK, but always use your common sense. Safely should always come first.

Never fly in an electrical storm, or where there is thunder or lightening. Wet kites lines can attract lightening!

Don’t fly near trees. The wind swirls around trees and sucks the kite into the trees. “Kite-eating trees” really exist!

Kite Tidbits

Kites made of bamboo and silk were invented in China more than 3000 years ago.

The military used man-lifting kites in the late 1800’s to observe behind enemy lines.

Kites were used to lift weather instruments and retrieve space capsules.

The world of kiting includes single line kites, two line controllable kites, four line controllable kites, kite buggying, kite surfing, and indoor kite flying. How do you fly a kite indoors? It takes a large room, a very lightweight kite, and a lot of walking around backwards!